Universal tool of the radial saw type

ABSTRACT

An improved mounting base is disclosed which gives added flexibility to a universal tool such as a radial saw. Included in this mounting base is an indexing turntable having a center beneath the operating range of the tool. A hinge arrangement is available to bring the turntable with the tool thereon to a position at 90* to the vertical. The radial arm thus becomes a vertical ways and with the addition of a biased lever to the motor unit, provides an efficient vertical drill press.

United States Patent Inventors William A. Collins, Sr.;

William A. Collins, Jr., both of 2920 Bauernwood Ave., Baltimore, Md. 21234 Appl. No. 793,070 Filed Jan. 22, 1969 Patented June 22, 1971 UNIVERSAL TOOL OF THE RADIAL SAW TYPE 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

43/6 G, 77/31 Int. Cl B27c 9/02 Field of Search 144/35, 35-

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,288 1 1/1935 Knapp 143/6! 2,621,686 12/1952 Tompkins... 144/35-1 X 2,999,519 9/ l 961 Petersen 144/ l -3 Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Attorney-Walter G.- Finch ABSTRACT: An improved mounting base is disclosed which gives added flexibility to a universal tool such as a radial saw. Included in this mounting base is an indexing turntable having a center beneath the operating range of the tool. hinge arrangement is available to bring the turntable with the tool thereon to a position at 90 to the vertical. The radial arm thus becomes a vertical ways and with the addition of a biased lever to the motor unit, provides an efficient vertical drill press.

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FIG. 5

UNIVERSAL TOOL OF THE RADIAL SAW TYPE This invention relates generally to woodworking machines, and more particularly it pertains to a combined universal tool of the radial saw type.

As now manufactured, radial saws although very versatile can be used only for horizontal drilling and boring, In this operation, they lack the sensitivity, visibility, and wood-supporting capabilities featured by a vertical drill press.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a mounting table for a standard radial saw which will easily and quickly connect it to vertical boring operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an indexing turntable whereby the axis thereof is in the operating range of the radial arm so that the latter may be set to different angles to accommodate work with a minimum of occupied base area.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hingeable mount for the turntable of a radial saw mount whereby the plane of the turntable may be swung into another plane at 90 to the first.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective, partially broken away, showing a universal tool of the radial saw type, illustrating features of the invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show successive stages in converting the radial saw to a vertical drill press through the agency of the novel table of this invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing an external clamping arrangement for the lever mounting;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the elements of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the lever mounting arranged for internal clamping on a ways.

Referring now to the details of the drawings in FIGS. 1 to 4, reference numeral I0 indicates generally a radial arm saw of which there are several generally similar types now commercially available. The radial arm saw 10 comprises a base frame 12 on which is secured a foot 14. A column 16 rises from this foot 14, and it is secured therein by means of a clamp 18.

A ways arm 20 is adjustably mounted on the column 16, and it is positioned by means of a crank 24 and locked by the arm clamp 22 in the desired position. A ways or track plate 26 extends the length of the ways arm 20 and it slidably receives a carriage 28. From the carriage 28, a rotatable yoke 30 depends, on which is mounted a motor 34. The motor 34 is equipped with accessories such as the saw 36, with a guard and a drill chuck 38 and they may be positioned and then secured in a desired attitude by means of yoke clamp 32.

The base frame 12 has a wooden saw table 40 with a fence 42, and it is usually secured to a workbench directly with fastener screws 44.

A table assembly 50 is provided comprising a frame 52. The top of the table assembly 50 is in two halves 54 and 64 attached together by a piano hinge 62. The table half 54 is rotatably secured to the frame 52 with a pivot bolt 56. The spaced pins 58 are inserted through the top half 54 when such rotation is not desired.

The other table half 64 of the tabletop carries a turntable 66 pivoted on pivot 68. An indexing arrangement 70 allows small increments of rotary position to be selected and fixed for the entire circumference.

As indicated by the dashed arrows and dotdashed outline in FIG. I, the radial arm saw 10 is mounted by means of the fasteners 44 to this turntable 66. In limited working areas, the turntable 66 feature allows the employment of the saw 36 to the best advantage especially for long workpieces.

To adapt the arrangement for vertical drill press work, the saw 36 and guard areremoved from the motor 34 as shown in FIG. 2 and the yoke 30 is rotated 90 counterclockwise from the position of FIG. I.

Next, the turntable 66 is rotated to a position 90 from that of FIG. 2 as shown in FIG. 3. Then the tabletop half 64 is tilted upon the hinge 62 as shown in FIG. 4 to a vertical position and a loose block or saddle 60 is placed under the column 16 to support the same upon the table half54.

It will be noted that the ways arm 20 is now in a vertical attitude as is the motor 34 and drill chuck 38.

As shown best in FIGS. 5 and 6, a biased drilling lever arrangement indicated by reference numeral 72, is supplied for attachment to the arm 20 to counteract the weight of the motor 34 and yoke 30 and to sensitively position it in a drilling operation.

To this end, there is provided a strap 74 to extend horizontally across the ways arm 20. This strap 74 is formed at one end at right angles into an ear 76. A slot 86 proximating the ear 76 extends a short distance lengthwise in the strap 74 and a slide 82 is mounted thereover with a lock bolt 88.

The slide 82 bears against a lock bolt and nut 90 in the ear 76. The other end of slide 82 is formed into a hook-shaped clamp tab and an oppositely facing hook-shaped clamp 84 is welded thereto.

Intermediate the ends of the strap 74, there is provided a rotatably clamp 78, which is also hook shaped, and secured pivotally with a fastener 80. Thusly, this clamp 78 may be oriented to clamp to an outside ways or track plate 26 as shown in FIG. 6 or to a machined ways track radial arm 120 having internal grooves 122 as shown in FIG. 7.

It will be noted that the oppositely facing clamps 84 and 85 are suitable for either usage, it being only necessary to reverse the bolt in the ear 76 of the strap 74.

The extended end opposite in strap 74 pivotally mounts a lever 92 with a hinge bolt 96 and spacer 94. A depending tab 98 from this same bolt 96 engages one end of a tension-coiled spring 100. The other end of spring 100 is hooked to a clip 102 which engages the motor yoke 30.

A pushrod 106 is seated in a socket 112 in the top side of the yoke 30 and extends upwardly to engage with the lever 92. This linkage comprises a yoke 108 at the end of the rod 106 and a fastener I10 which passes through both the yoke 108 and the lever 92 as best shown in FIG. 5.

To limit the downward excursion of the carriage 28, a depth gauge 114 is provided attached to the lever 92 with a thumbscrew 118. The depth gauge 114 is longitudinally slotted at 116 so as to be selectively positioned with strap 74 and so limit the throw of the lever 92.

This is an important feature of the invention since otherwise it might be possible to drill completely through a work support 124 into the column 16, as indicated in FIG. 4.

For easier drilling on long work, the arrangement as set up in FIG. 4 may be rotated about pivot 56 after retracting the pins 58.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What we claim is:

1. In a universal radial saw tool, a base, a column extending from and supported by said base, a horizontal ways adjustably supported on said column, a movable carriage mounted on said horizontal ways for supporting a motor assembly with attachments to support simultaneously a radial saw and a drill chuck with the portion of the motor assembly which supports said chuck being positionable in a direction toward said column, the improvement comprising a table assembly consisting of a frame, and a top for said frame, said top consisting of two portions, means for pivotally attaching said portions together, means for rotatably securing one or said portions to said frame, a turntable means pivotally mounted on the other of said portions, means for attaching said base to said turntable means, whereby said base, said column, and said horizontal ways can be selectively positionable relative to said frame, with said horizontal ways assuming a vertical position so that when said drill chuck is positioned toward said column, said drill chuck can be used as a vertical drill press.

2. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for pivotally attaching said portions of said top together consists of a piano-type hinge.

3. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical drill press has an adjustable height adjustment to limit movement ofsaid press.

4. [n a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim ll, wherein said one of said portions of said top of said frame is horizontally disposed to receive said tool and having a block thereon adapted to engage said column of said tool.

5. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said turntable means is circular in shape, and indexing means on the other of said portions of said top of said frame for selection of increments of rotary positioning of said turntable means by engagement of the periphery of said turntable means.

6. ln a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim l, and means located on said one of said portions of said top on said frame to limit rotation of said one portion.

7. in a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, and additionally clamp-on means including a clamp positioned ad-' jacent said horizontal ways, a lever pivoted to said clamp, and a spring opposed pushrod connecting said clamp with said motor assembly carriage, whereby said vertical drill press adaption may be sensitively controlled in operation.

8. ln a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 7, a gauge comprising a slotted member and a thumbscrew for securing said slotted member adjustably to said lever in the sliding path of the said motor assembly carriage.

9. In a universal radial saw recited in claim 8, said clamp comprising a longitudinally slotted strap having an ear at right angles thereto and a hook-shaped member pivotally affixed thereon spaced from the ear; a slide having an integral ear corresponding to the first said ear, and integral oppositely facing hook-shaped members for opposing the first said hook-shaped member; a bolt adjustably connecting the said ears to lock said clamp on said horizontal ways, and a second bolt connecting said slide to the slotted strap at the said slot, said clamp means being vertically adjustable on said horizontal ways. 

1. In a universal radial saw tool, a base, a column extending from and supported by said base, a horizontal ways adjustably supported on said column, a movable carriage mounted on said horizontal ways for supporting a motor assembly with attachments to support simultaneously a radial saw and a drill chuck with the portion of the motor assembly which supports said chuck being positionable in a direction toward said column, the improvement comprising a table assembly consisting of a frame, and a top for said frame, said top consisting of two portions, means for pivotally attaching said portions together, means for rotatably securing one of said portions to said frame, a turntable means pivotally mounted on the other of said portions, means for attaching said base to said turntable means, whereby said base, said column, and said horizontal ways can be selectively positionable relative to said frame, with said horizontal ways assuming a vertical position so that when said drill chuck is positioned toward said column, said drill chuck can be used as a vertical drill press.
 2. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein the means for pivotally attaching said portions of said top together consists of a piano-type hinge.
 3. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said vertical drill press has an adjustable height adjustment to limit movement of said press.
 4. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said one of said portions of said top of said frame is horizontally disposed to receive said tool and having a block thereon adapted to engage said column of said tool.
 5. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, wherein said turntable means is circular in shape, and indexing means on the other of said portions of said top of said frame for selection of increments of rotary positioning of said turntable means by engagement of the periphery of said turntable means.
 6. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, and means located on said one of said portions of said top on said frame to limit rotation of said one portion.
 7. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 1, and additionally clamp-on means including a clamp positioned adjacent said horizontal ways, a lever pivoted to said clamp, and a spring opposed pushrod connecting said clamp with said motor assembly carriage, whereby said vertical drill press adaption may be sensitively controlled in operation.
 8. In a universal radial saw tool as recited in claim 7, a gauge comprising a slotted member and a thumbscrew for securing said slotted member adjustably to said lever in the sliding path of the said motor assembly carriage.
 9. In a universal radial saw recited in claim 8, said clamp comprising a longitudinally slotted strap having an ear at right angles thereto and a hook-shaped member pivotally affixed thereon spaced from the ear; a slide having an integral ear corresponding to the first said ear, and integral oppositely facing hook-shaped members for opposing the first said hook-shaped member; a bolt adjustably connecting the said ears to lock said clamp on said horizontal ways, and a second bolt connecting said slide to the slotted strap at the said slot, said clamp means being vertically adjustable on said horizontal ways. 